Wax guard for surfboards

ABSTRACT

A protective cover for surfboard decks is presented that is easy to fit and use, protects the wax layer on the surfboard deck, and fits within a standard board bag. The invention is inexpensive to purchase, easy to store and helps reduce surfboard maintenance costs and time.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

[0001] This invention relates to removable protective devices for athletic equipment, in particular surfboards and similar equipment, employing a petroleum-based wax protective surface. The invention serves to protect the textured wax surface used to give traction to the rider's feet on surfboards and prevent wax migration to other surfaces.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PRIOR ART

[0002] Surfboard riding requires that a surfboard have an upper surface (deck) that is capable of providing necessary traction to the board rider's feet. Since surfboards are designed and made to have smooth surfaces to reduce drag, and for other hydrodynamic purposes, surfers regularly apply a rough, uneven coat of wax (“surf wax”) to the deck of their boards. This wax coating gives the deck an improved coefficient of friction so that riders are able to maintain the desired positioning to control the surfboard's movements while in either the prone or standing positions.

[0003] There are several protective devices available for skis and surfboards that serve to protect the surface of a board or ski from scratching or marring during transport. These include board bags and the like.

[0004] However, their are few devices that are specifically designed to protect the wax coating from being unintentionally removed or from migrating away from where it was applied. The board bags, in fact,, contribute to the problem by rubbing against the pre-waxed upper surface of the board, removing or disturbing a carefully built-up wax job. A waxed board has an uneven, lumpy appearance to give maximum taction to the rider's feet.

[0005] When a surfboard is placed in a standard board bag and stored for a period of time, friction between the board and the bag and heat inside the bag cause the wax on the deck to bead-up and eventually peel off, sticking to the inside surface of the bag. Inserting and removing a board from a bag just makes things worse, contributing to loss of wax from the deck. Another problem is that wax collecting on the inside of the bag can now migrate to the surfboard's LOWER surface, where it is not wanted and will have to be removed.

[0006] The present invention comprises a board-shaped layer of plastic that is smooth on one side and has a raised pattern, regular or random, on the other. The patterned side of the invention is left against the waxed surface of the protected board and the smooth side is presented to the outside world.

[0007] In the preferred embodiment, the plastic covering is secured to the board with a set of simple straps and connectors that stretch, similar to bungee cords. Other attachment means are possible with this invention. The patterned inner surface of the invention prevents the textured wax surface of the board from migrating away from where it was placed.

[0008] The invention can be used by itself for board storage and transport functions or can be used in combination with board bags or other protective devices. In any usage mode, the desired wax pattern on the board deck will be preserved. With regular use of this wax guard invention, the surfboard will experience reduced wear and tear on its deck surface, nose, and tail and be maintained for optimal performance.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0009] The present invention is a protective covering for the waxed deck of a standard surfboard, comprised of a single sheet of plastic with two sides, one smooth, the other with a raised pattern, connected to the board with any of a variety of attachment means. The plastic material appears similar to a sheet of carpet runner, that has regularly-spaced raised bumps on one side and is smooth on the other.

[0010] The invention is designed to be placed loosely over the surfboard and loosely held in place such that the patterned side of the invention is the only surface that comes into contact with the wax job on the board deck. The side of the invention with the raised plastic is designed to possess either a random bump distribution or a characteristic patterning that maximizes wax protection.

[0011] The bumps can be in a variety of shapes, spikes, ovals, squares, circles, whatever pattern that protects the waxed deck the most effectively. The only requirement is that the pattern prevents the wax on the deck from peeling off and sticking to the invention and the pattern maintain a desirable wax distribution.

[0012] The patterning on the inside of the invention also enables a cooling airflow to pass between the invention and the surfboard deck. The invention also protects the wax on the deck from sand contamination until it is removed for surfboard use.

OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION

[0013] It is a crucial objective of the invention that the wax layer on the deck be disturbed as little as possible during storage when the invention is properly used.

[0014] It is an objective of the invention that wax migration on the deck be minimized, even if the wax is not removed.

[0015] It is an objective of this invention that the protective device be light-weight, strong, and flexible.

[0016] It is an objective of this invention that the protector be inexpensive to purchase and maintain.

[0017] It is an objective of this invention that the device be usable with a standard-sized board bag, such that a board with the device properly-placed be able to fit in a board bag.

[0018] It is an objective of the invention that the device be easily stored by folding and placing in a bag or other receptacle.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0019] The construction and operation of the invention can be readily appreciated from inspection of the drawings that accompany this application, combined with the detailed specification to follow.

[0020]FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a standard surfboard from the fin side.

[0021]FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the invention ready to be attached.

[0022]FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the surfboard with the invention.

[0023]FIG. 4 is a close-up view of the tail end of the invention

[0024]FIG. 5 is a close-up view of the nose cone with the cover open.

[0025]FIG. 6 is a cross-section view of the invention as it rests on the surface of the surfboard

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0026] In FIG. 2, the preferred embodiment of the invention¹⁰¹ possesses two nose-cone cover parts^(102,103), a right and left securing strap^(104,105), a tail end part106, a securing hook strap¹⁰⁷ and a securing hook¹¹⁰, and two loops for the securing straps^(108,109). In FIG. 3, the invention is shown assembled on a surfboard¹⁰⁰. Note that the securing hook¹¹⁰ is connected to the two securing strap loops^(108,109) by simply hooking it through the two loops.

[0027] In the preferred embodiment, the attachment means for the invention is the set of straps^(104,105,107) plus the two loops^(108,109) plus the securing hook¹¹⁰. Other attachment means are possible, including Velcro straps, ties and the like.

[0028] The nose cone cover^(102,103) parts in the preferred embodiment are connected to each other when closed with Velcro pads¹¹¹, but other methods of holding them closed are possible, including snaps and ties.

[0029] The invention's inside surface¹¹², the surface that presses against the surfboard deck, is patterned with raised bumps; the bumps can be of any shape and size. The sample pattern shown in FIG. 6 is representative of the patterns to be available. 

What is claimed is:
 1. A protective device for surfboards, the protective device to be placed over the upper deck of a standard-sized surfboard, the protective device comprised of an outer surface, an inner surface, a nose cone cover, a tail end, and a protective device securing means, the protective device made of flexible, strong material, the outer surface smooth in texture, the inner surface covered in a plurality of raised bumps that are fixedly connected to the inner surface, the plurality of raised bumps distributed over the inner surface in a fixed pattern or in a random pattern, the nose cone cover comprising one end of the protective device, the nose cone cover comprised of two nose cone cover parts, the nose cone cover parts capable of folding over the nose of a standard-sized surfboard, the nose cone cover parts capable of being connected to each other by a nose-cone connection means such that the connected nose cone cover parts form a pocket for a standard surfboard nose, the tail part comprising the end of the protective device away from the nose cone cover, the tail part a flap of the material comprising the protective device capable of being folded over the tail end of a standard-sized surfboard, the protective device attached to a standard sized surfboard by securing the nose cone parts over the nose of the surfboard by means of the nose cone connection means, extending the length of the protective device such that the inner surface is in contact with the upper deck of the surfboard, folding the tail end of the protective device over the tail of the surfboard, and then securing the tail end and the protective device to the surfboard with the protective device securing means.
 2. The protective device of claim 1, where the flexible, strong material comprising the protective device is polyvinylchloride plastic.
 3. The protective device of claim 1 where the nose cone connection means is velcro pads attached fixedly to the nose cone parts.
 4. The protective device of claim 1 where the protective device securing means is a set of elastic straps with hooks and loops. 